Collapsible stool



March 12, 1963 R. M. FULLER COLLAPSIBLE STOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJuly 21, 1961 INVENTOR ROY M FULLER March 12, 1963 R. M. FULLERCOLLAPSIBLE STOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 21, 1961 INVENTOR ROY 1w.FULLER.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 102 3,081,055 COLLAPSIBLE STOOL Roy M.Fuller, 525 W. 23rd St., San Pedro, Calif. Filed July 21, 1961, Ser. No.125,710 4 Claims. (Cl. 248164) This invention relates to collapsiblesupporting or seating structures such as camp stools or beach chairs andis particularly exemplified by a collapsible stool which can adequatelysupport an adult (either sitting or standing thereon) wherever quicklyassembled within or without doors, and which can be momentarilycollapsed to a compact bundle only half the length and height of thestool, which bundle can be readily grasped and carried in one hand. Suchstructures are particularly adapted for use at sporting events and otherassemblies where seats may not be provided and where full-size chairsobviously cannot be moved thru crowds by each individual even ifavailable nearby. However the present collapsed bundle (requiring nounconnected elements in assembly) can be carried about (either by handor in a coat pocket) with less interference to members of a crowd thanpro-- duced by an umbrella or walking stick. In addition it is lightweight, easy to assemble and collapse without use of any tools, and canbe readily and cheaply fabricated of a variety of available materials,even of scrap elements if desired or required.

Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide an improvedarticle of the character described. An impo-rtant feature is aconstruction which permits each of the four legs to be segmentallycollapsed adjacent the four corners of the seating surface, which lattercan be folded upon itself and then rolled into a bundle together withthe collapsed legs. A particular advantage arises from the employment ofhingedly connected leg segments, readily braced in seat-supportingpositionlongitudinally aligned in end abutment with each other and withthe cross support of the seating material, and in collapsed positionarticulating outward to be disposable in compact layers in juxtapositionwith the upper face of the cross support. Such arrangement utilizesparticular spacing arrangements as herein defined.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds, having particular reference to the accompanying drawingsdepicting a presently preferred embodiment of the invention whereinFIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my collapsible stool assembled inposition for use;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the inner face of a parallel pairof legs of one side of the stool as seen along the line 22 of FIGURE 1,with a portion of the seating material removed from the upper suspensionarm;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view of the inner face of a crossed pairof legs at one end of the assembled stool as viewed along the line 3-3of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view particularly showing the several hingemembers and channel bracket adjacent one corner of the frame as seenalong the line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5- is a perspective view of the cross bracing of an end pair oflegs as seen from the inner face, the nearer leg being sectioned alongthe line 5-5 of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the entire structure 3,081,055 7 PatentedMar. 12, 1963 spread out flat, with the two side frames connected onlyby the fabric seating;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view showing the legs of each side frameindividually collapsed along the respective adjacent fabric edge, withthe latter in the same position as in FIGURE 6 but with thefabric-holding suspension arms rotated on their longitudinal axis forbetter illustration;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevational view of the structure of FIGURE 7 withthe fabric seating folded upon itself along the vertical axis of FIGURE7;

FIGURE 9 is an elevational view of the structure of FIGURE 8 as viewedat right angles thereto in the direction of the arrow 9; and

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the structure of FIGURES 8-9 rolledinto a compact bundle by wrapping the fabric around each end structureas the latter are axially rotated toward each other.

The here exemplified collapsible stool is formed of a pair of similar,inverted U-shaped, side frames 12, 14 (FIGURE 6) of slightly differentlengths, having the two cross arms of the U permanently transverselyconnected by a flexible, generally rectangular surface of seatingmaterial 16 such as canvas, nylon, Saran, glass fiber or other syntheticplastic or natural fiber. Conveniently the seat 16 is formed of a singlesheet of material but this does not preclude similar employment ofstrands or wider strips of like material woven or cross laced with eachother.

In the present form, the frames are constructed typically of woodenmembers, conveniently rectangular in section. However, they may also bemade of other rigid materials including metal and plastic, and othershapes are not excluded for the elongated members including tubes and/orexternally curved rods. Each frame 12, 14 has a pair of end-abutting,longitudinally aligned support or suspension arms 18, 20 to which theseating material 16 is attached along its longitudinal edge, extendinglengthwise in each direction from a medial cutout or inset portion 22,23 of the sheet. The adjacent, abutting ends of the suspension arms aremutually attached along their underface by a hinge 24 (FIGURES 4 and 8)so as to permit their outer ends 26, 28 to be collapsed or folded downtoward or against each other (from the assembled or supporting positionof FIGURE 1), which hinge at the same time maintains each endadjaccntpair of suspension arms (18, 20) in a continu ous, level, generallyhorizontally disposed plane, even when supporting the weight of a personon the seat 16.

The outer end 26, 28 of each of the four suspension arms 18, 19, 20, 21also has aflixed to its upper face (or formed integral therewith) ashort, upstanding, spacing block 30 of width and thickness generallycorresponding. to the dependent support arm. Also the underface of eachsuspension arm has a short hook or latch member 32 free swinging from anattachment eye 34 adjacent the outer end.

Each of the four legs 36, 37, 38, 39 is formed of three, hingedlyconnected segments a, b, c disposed end to end by successive hinges 40,42, 44 extensible in a straight line perpendicularly downward from theunderface of the respective, horizontally disposed, suspension arm towhich the uppermost segment a is articulated adjacent its transverseedge. Accordingly, the shortest, proximate segment a is swingable on thehinge 40 thru an angle of 180 between a support position with its enddisposed in frictional registration with the underface of the suspensionarm (20, FIGURE 4), and a collapsed position with its longitudinal facejointly against the vertical ends of the horizontal members 20, 30. Whenfolded or collapsed in the latter position, the next hinge 42 will thenpermit the leg segment b to be disposed parallel to and spaced above thesuspension arm (18, 19, 20, 21, FIG- URE 7) in juxtaposition with thespacing member 30. At the same time, the outermost hinge 44 permits thedistal segment c to be swung 180 so as to be sandwiched between theintermediate segment b and the upper face of the suspension arm, withthe free end 45 of the segment disposed adjacent the inner end 46 of thespacing member (FIGURE 8).

It will be observed that the length of the intermediate segment bexceeds the length of the distal segment 0 at least by the length of thespacing member 30; and the length of the proximate segment a is justsufiicient to swing the segment 12 to a position frictionally overlyingthe horizontal block 30. In the present form, additionally, thethickness of each of the structural members being half the length of thespacing block 30, the length of the latter is also equal to the lengthof the proximate segment a. Thus the three piece leg folds or collapsesagainst the suspension arm in two layers to form a compact three-layerstructure about which the collapsed seating material 30 can be woundwithout removal of any structural members as subsequently detailed.

The inner face of each intermediate arm 11 is provided with a ring oreyelet 46 to receive the free end of the adjacent hook 32 so that uponassembly, the latter in angular disposition can brace the functionallypositioned leg against outfolding or buckling in the direction of thelongitudinal axis of the seat 16. On the other hand, the segments arerestrained from articulation in the opposite direction by reason oftheir mutual end-abutment and the hinges mounted along their outerfaces. In addition, the inner face of the outermost (parallel) pair oflegs 36, 37 is each provided with a rectangular-channel bracket member48 pivotally secured at one end to the intermediate segment b at 50(FIGURE so as to transversely overlie the segment intersection and haveits other end detachably secured to the adjacent segment 0 (or viceversa) as by a terminal hook 52 and eye 54.

The adjacent, angularly disposed leg (38) is inserted in the channelportion or socket of the bracket 48 before latching the latter, so thatthe joints of both (crossed) legs are thus clamped together in positionto hold them straight as well as in lateral registration.

Accordingly it will be apparent that I have provided a collapsibleframe, particularly adapted to support an (attached) flexible seat orsupporting surface 16, which frame can be quickly and easily collapsedand assembled. When set upwithout the use of tools or any addedattachmentsit is sturdily self-supporting. When collapsed and rolledinto a bundle (FIGURE it can be grasped with one hand or carried in acoat pocket. In addition to its obvious use as a seat, it can beemployed (for example) on the beach as a back rest or mounted over areclined person to utilize its seating surface a a sun shade, orwith theseating vertically disposedas a wind break. Other uses and advantageswill become apparent in other localities.

I claim:

1. A collapsible structure of the character described, comprising incombination: a similar pair of generally rectangular, inverted U-shapedframes formed of flatsided members of uniform thickness, of which theparallel side members of the U form dependent supporting legs disposablecrosswise in frictional registration with the corresponding legs of theadjacent frame; a generally rectangular surface of flexible seatingmaterial transversely connecting the top cross arms of both inverted Uframes and formed with a medial inset portion along each connected sideedge; each frame being formed with a longitudinally aligned pair ofsuspension arms jointly forming the cross arm of the U, which arms areterminally hinged together adjacent said inset portion by a dependenthinge so as to be movable between a supporting position of end abutmentand a collapsed position wherein both outer ends are downswung towardeach other with said seating material folded along a transverse lineconnecting said insets; a latch member located adjacent each outer endof each suspension arm for angular bracing of the adjacent leg byselective engagement therewith when in dependent position; each outerend of each suspension arm being formed with a short, upstandingrectangular projection upon its upper face having a thickness equal tothe thickness of said legs; each of the four legs being formed by threesuccessive, hingedly connected segments of unequal length and equalthickness to the thickness of the suspension arms and consisting of (a)a proximate segment of length equal to the combined thickness of asuspension arm plus said upstanding projection thereon, whereby saidsegment can be swung between a supporting position wherein one end ofthe dependent, upright disposed segment abuts against the underface ofthe adjacent connected suspension arm, and a collapsed position outswungwherein its longitudinal face is disposed against the adjacent ends ofthe suspension arm and upstanding projection jointly, (b) anintermediate segment adapted in collapsed position to overlie theadjacent connected suspension arm in spaced relation and injuxtaposition with said projection, and (c) a distal segment shorterthan said intermediate segment by at least the length of saidprojection, whereby in collapsed position it may be hingedly disposedlengthwise in juxtaposition between the suspension arm and theintermediate segment spaced thereabove, with the free end of the distalsegment disposed adjacent the inner end of said projection; one leg ofeach adjacent crossed pair being provided with a selectively engageablebracket member disposable lengthwise along said leg with its respectiveends securable to the intermediate and distal segments thereof along theside opposite the hinge line therebetween, said bracket having arectangular channel portion adapted to frictionally overlie the adjacentcrossed leg, whereby in supporting position the hinged segment joints ofboth legs are securely held against buckling.

2. In combination with a collapsible structure of the characterdescribed, the improvement comprising: a seating material suspension armhaving an outer end formed with a short, upstanding, projection alongits upper face having a thickness equal to the thickness of a legcoupled adjacent thereto, and a supporting leg hingedly secured adjacentthe lower edge of said outer end, said leg being formed by threesuccessive, hingedly connected segments of unequal length and generallyequal thickness and consisting of (a) a proximate segment having alength equal to the combined thickness of the suspension arm plus saidupstanding projection, whereby said segment can be swung between asupporting position wherein one end of the dependent, upright disposedsegment abuts against the underface of the suspension arm, and acollapsed position outswung 180 wherein its longitudinal face isdisposed against the adjacent ends of the suspension arm and upstandingprojection jointly, (b) an intermediate segment adapted in collapsedposition to overlie the upperface of the suspension arm in spacedrelation and in juxtaposition with said projection, and (c) a distalsegment shorter than said intermediate segment by at least the length ofsaid projection, whereby in collapsed position it may be hingedlydisposed lengthwise in juxtaposition between the suspension arm and theintermediate segment spaced thereabove, with the free end of the distalsegment disposed adjacent the inner end of said projection.

3. The structure of the preceding claim 2 wherein said suspension arm ismedially hinged for folding against itself and each outer end thereofhingedly carries one of said segmented legs.

4. The structure of the preceding claim 3 which comprises two of saidsuspension arms each carrying a pair of said segmented legs, the legs ofone arm being disposable across the legs of the other arm in frictionalregistration therewith, and retaining means for detachably couplingtogether each such crossed pair of legs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS405,117 Purdy et al. June 11, 1889 1,047,449 Russ Dec. 17, 19121,263,509 Zendt April 23, 1918

1. A COLLAPSIBLE STRUCTURE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, COMPRISING INCOMBINATION: A SIMILAR PAIR OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR, INVERTED U-SHAPEDFRAMES FORMED OF FLATSIDED MEMBERS OF UNIFORM THICKNESS, OF WHICH THEPARALLEL SIDE MEMBERS OF THE U FORM DEPENDENT SUPPORTING LEGS DISPOSABLECROSSWISE IN FRICTIONAL REGISTRATION WITH THE CORRESPONDING LEGS OF THEADJACENT FRAME; A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR SURFACE OF FLEXIBLE SEATINGMATERIAL TRANSVERSELY CONNECTING THE TOP CROSS ARMS OF BOTH INVERTED UFRAMES AND FORMED WITH A MEDIAL INSET PORTION ALONG EACH CONNECTED SIDEEDGE; EACH FRAME BEING FORMED WITH A LONGITUDINALLY ALIGNED PAIR OFSUSPENSION ARMS JOINTLY FORMING THE CROSS ARM OF THE U, WHICH ARMS ARETERMINALLY HINGED TOGETHER ADJACENT SAID INSET PORTION BY A DEPENDENTHINGE SO AS TO BE MOVABLE BETWEEN A SUPPORTING POSITION OF END ABUTMENTAND A COLLAPSED POSITION WHEREIN BOTH OUTER ENDS ARE DOWNSWUNG TOWARDEACH OTHER WITH SAID SEATING MATERIAL FOLDED ALONG A TRANSVERSE LINECONNECTING SAID INSETS; A LATCH MEMBER LOCATED ADJACENT EACH OUTER ENDOF EACH SUSPENSION ARM FOR ANGULAR BRACING OF THE ADJACENT LEG BYSELECTIVE ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH WHEN IN DEPENDENT POSITION; EACH OUTEREND OF EACH SUSPENSION ARM BEING FORMED WITH A SHORT, UPSTANDINGRECTANGULAR PROJECTION UPON ITS UPPER FACE HAVING A THICKNESS EQUAL TOTHE THICKNESS OF SAID LEGS; EACH OF THE FOUR LEGS BEING FORMED BY THREESUCCESSIVE, HINGEDLY CONNECTED SEGMENTS OF UNEQUAL LENGTH AND EQUALTHICKNESS TO THE THICKNESS OF THE SUSPENSION ARMS AND CONSISTING OF (A)A PROXIMATE SEGMENT OF LENGTH EQUAL TO THE COMBINED THICKNESS OF ASUSPENSION ARM PLUS SAID UPSTANDING PROJECTION THEREON, WHEREBY SAIDSEGMENT CAN